MIKE MORAN: No surprise when politicians act politically

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines politics as “activities that relate to influencing the actions and policies of a government, or getting and keeping power in a government.”

Mike Moran

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines politics as "activities that relate to influencing the actions and policies of a government, or getting and keeping power in a government."

That's sufficiently long-winded, but it's also quite accurate. What we've witnessed here in Fall River over the past few weeks fits that definition like a warm winter glove. The stakes are certainly higher in Washington, D.C., and in state capitals nationwide, but politics flows through the veins of many here at home, and it never gets boring.

Mayor Will Flanagan knows a lot about politics. And it's safe to say that he was very happy to see 2013 come to a close. As the year wound down, the mayor struggled through the abrupt dismissal of Shawn Cadime, the Dominion Energy funding fiasco, and resentment over the expensive cosmetic improvements made to Government Center's sixth floor.

But he started the new year with a little more spring in his step, and with pretty good reason. The mayor had his new city administrator, a former political rival, firmly in place. That move knocked over enough political dominos to pave the way for the election of a new City Council president, handing the mayor a friendlier council than if Cathy Ann Viveiros had joined the legislative group of nine as one of its most adversarial members.

But despite all the political jockeying, and the fallout it created, the inauguration of city officials last week was a rather pedestrian affair. Sure, parts of it were a little odd and awkward, but not as strange as, let's say, a Dennis Rodman press conference.

The smiles and handshakes were as familiar as the fresh carnations pinned to the lapels of each elected official. Words about togetherness, vision and forward thinking were rearranged to form a new set of speeches, with pomp once again joining comfortably with circumstance in the Nagle Auditorium.

And if the abrupt election of Joe Camara as council president had you reaching for the smelling salts, kindly get a grip. The routine re-election of a sitting president is no longer guaranteed — not anymore. So the ascension of Camara to the top spot is hardly a shocker.

Was the whole thing orchestrated by the mayor? His critics, and even some supporters, are convinced of it. Two brand new councilors, Paul DaSilva and Jasiel Correia II, seem rather Flanagan-friendly. Councilor Leo Pelletier has resurfaced as another supporter of the mayor. So, too, is the recently converted City Administrator Cathy Ann Viveiros. That's all the evidence some need to assign some conspiratorial significance to the whole presidential election thing.

For me, the least believable part of this alleged plot is that Flanagan gains a major advantage by the demotion of Linda Pereira from council president to rank and file status. While the presidency surely provides a high profile, the president has traditionally played a more limited role in the council's discussion and debate. Pereira will never be accused of being shy and retiring, but her non-presidential role may afford her a better opportunity to be a thorn in the administration's side, should she decide to go that route.

But Pereira has been somewhat low-key during this transition of power. While she hasn't hidden from view, we've heard no angry or bitter reaction to her loss of the presidency. That's probably because last week's inauguration ceremony wasn't her first rodeo.

In fact, it was she who, some years ago, played a major role as a swing vote when she tossed her support to Steve Camara and not Bill Whitty. The election of a council president can take unpredictable turns, and no one knows that better than an ex-president.

All this brings us back to the dictionary's description of politics. Remember that "getting and keeping power in a government" portion of the Merriam-Webster definition? Linda Pereira is well aware of the significance of that phrase. She's smart enough and experienced enough to know that getting power is difficult, but keeping it can sometimes be even harder.

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